Freezing tray separator construction



Jan. 12, 1937. c. STEENSTRUP FREEZING TRAY SEPARATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 6, 1954 Inventor: Ch'risciom Stee'nscru'p,

b9 & His Attovheg.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 FREEZING TRAY SEPARATOR CONSTRUCTION tion of New York Application December 6, 1934, Serial No. 756,243

7 Claims.

My invention relates to freezing trays for refrigerating machines.

Freezing trays are provided in many types of refrigerating machines and particularly in those 5 adapted for domestic use. These trays are usually relatively shallow, rectangular metallic containers. In use, they are usually filled with water or other substance to be frozen and then placed on a surface of the cooling unit of the refrigerating machine in order to freeze the Water contained therein. A partition assembly is commonly provided in freezing trays of this type in order to divide the tray into a number of small compartments, so that the ice will be 5 frozen in small blocks. The partition assembly may be integral with the tray, but more frequently is provided in the form of a separable unit. When the latter form is used, the whole assembly and the ice contained therein may be 2 removed from the tray and then the ice blocks or cubes may be removed individually from the partition assembly.

It is an object of my invention to provide a partition assembly for ice freezing trays of the type described, which can be made of relatively light, thin sheet metal, and provide an economical and rugged construction.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following de- 3 scription proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is-a perspective View of a freezing tray containing a partition assembly embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the partition assembly shown 40 in the freezing tray in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the partition assembly shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation partly in section of the partition assembly shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating the method of removal of ice cubes from the partition assembly.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. l I have shown a shallow, rectangular metal freezing tray Ill. The tray l contains a removable partition assembly consisting of a longitudinal partition I I and a plurality of transverse partitions I2. As

' best shown in Fig. 2, the longitudinal partition II is provided with a series of slots I3 which extend from the lower longitudinal edge towards 55 the center thereof. The transverse partitions I2 are provided with slots I4 which extend from the upper longitudinal edge towards the center thereof. These oppositely extending slots permit the assembly of the transverse partitions on the longitudinal partition in intersecting relation, as shown in Fig. 2. The transverse partitions I2 are pushed into the slots I3 formed in the longitudinal partition II, the slots I4 in the transverse partitions embracing the unslotted portion of the longitudinal partition I I.

The longitudinal partition II is provided with longitudinal strengthening ridges or corrugations I5 and IS. The corrugated structure shown provides a strong longitudinal partition, even when made of relatively thin sheet material. The corrugations or indentations I5 and I6 in the longitudinal partition II also serve to bracethe transverse partition I2 against bending or twisting; that is, the corrugations I5 and I6 in the longitudinal partition II form a transverse bearing surface pressing against the faces of the transverse partitions l2, thus resisting any relative bending thereof at a plurality of laterally displaced points, namely, the high points of the corrugations. Asa consequence, the transverse partitions I2,may also be made of relatively thin sheet material.

The transverse-partitions I2 are provided with notches I1 and I8 on each side of the slots I4 therein in order that the edges of the transverse partition member I2 may be peened over the adjacent portion of longitudinal partition II. The notches I1 and I8 may be formed by a peening die during the assembly operation.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 4, the corrugations l5 and 16 present downwardly sloping outer surfaces I9 and 20. In removing ice cubes from the tray, the tray is first placed in water to release the cubes therefrom and permit removal of the whole partition assembly. Water is then passed over the partition assembly to thaw the cubes about the exposed edges so that when a cube, such as cube 2|, is pressed downwardly in the direction of arrow 22 it may be individually removed from the partition assembly. As the cube 2| is pressed downward, the downwardly sloping outer surfaces I9 and 20 on the corrugations I5 and I6 assist in breaking the cube away from longitudinal partition II and transverse partitions I2 since the downward movement of the ice cube on the surfaces I9 and 20 also causes it to move laterally, thus resulting in a lateral as well as a vertical strain on the surfaces of the cube adhering to.

the partition assembly and aiding in freeing the rear surfaces thereof from the upper portion of longitudinal partition II and the side surfaces from lateral partitions I2. When the cube 2| has been moved downwardly a short distance its rear edge may be grasped by ones fingers so that the ice cube can be quickly and easily pulled from the partition assembly.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a rigid, metallic icefreezing tray, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construetion shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partitions each having a slot formed therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said partitions being assembled in intersecting relationship with the slot in each partition embracing the unslotted portion at the closed end of the slot in the other partition, one of said partitions having ridges extending to the slot therein, the edges of said ridges engaging the unslotted portion of the other partition to brace said partitions against relative movement.

2. A partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition having a pluralv ity of longitudinal strengthening ridges extending over at least a half of the vertical height of said longitudinal partition and presenting downwardlysloping outer surfaces to facilitate the removal of ice blocks or the like from said assembly upon thawing of the frozen bond between the surfaces of the ice blocks and. the assembly, said longitudinal partition having a series of slots therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, and a plurality of transversepartitions each having a slot therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said transverse partitions being arranged on said longitudinal partition in said series of slots formed therein with the slots formed in said transverse partitions embracing the unslotted portion of said longitudinal partition, the end portions of said strengthening ridges adjacent said slots in said longitudinal partition bearing against said transverse partitions and minimizing lateral bending thereof.

3. A partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition having a plurality of longitudinal strengthening corrugations therein extending substantially throughout the length thereof and presenting downwardly sloping outer surfaces to facilitate the removal of ice blocks or the like from said assembly upon thawing of the frozen bond between the surfaces of the ice blocks and the assembly, said longitudinal partition having a series of slots therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, and a plurality of transverse partitions each having a slot therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said transverse partitions being arranged on said longitudinal partition in said series of slots formed therein with the slots formed in said transverse partitions embracing the unslotted portion of said-longitudinal partition, the end portions of said strengthening corrugations adjacent said slots in said longiing of the frozen bond between the surfaces of the ice blocks and the assembly, said longitudinal partition having a series of slots in the corrugated portion thereof extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, and a plurality of transverse partitions each having a slot therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said transverse partitions being arranged on.said longitudinal partition in said series of slots formed therein with the slots formed in said transverse partitions embracing the unslotted portion of'said longitudinal partition, the end portions of said strengthening corrugations adjacent said slots in said longitudinal partition bearing against said transverse partitions and minimizing lateral bending thereof.

5. A partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partitions each having a slot formed therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said partitions being assembled in intersecting relationship with the slot in each partition embracing the unslotted portion at the closed end of the slot in the other partition, one of said partitions having indentations extending to the slot' therein, the edges of said indentations engaging the unslotted portion of the other partition to brace said partitions against relative movement.

6. A partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partitions each having a slot formed therein extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said partitions being assembled in intersecting relationship with the slot in each partition embracing the unslotted portions at the closed end of the slot in the other partition, one of said partitions having corrugations extending throughout its length, the edges of said corrugations at said slots engaging the unslotted portions of the other partition to brace said partitions against relative movement.

7. A partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition having a plurality of slots formed therein and extending from a longitudinal edge toward the center thereof, said slots being spaced apart longitudinally of said longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition being corrugated throughout its length along the slotted portion thereof, a plurality of transverse partitions having slots extending from the edge toward the center thereof with a slot in each transverse partition embracing the unslotted portion at the closed end of the slot in the longitudinal partition, and the unslotted portion of the transverse partitions arrangedin the slots in the longitudinal partition, the edges of said corrugations in said longitudinal partition engaging the unslotted portion of said transverse partitions to brace said transverse partitions against movement 

